I really don't see the value of a sim for PPL training. The contrast between sitting at home looking at a screen and sitting the a real aircraft with the feel, sound and visibility is huge. Rather than spend hours in front of a computer, a few hours gliding would be much more valuable (and cheeper than powered flight lessons). Even finding some kind person to take you as a 'passenger' with the chance to feel the controls would help far more.
If you do use a sim then a stick or yoke is a must. when I fly IMC on the sim I assign forward and aft trim to two of the buttons on the stick. Trimming is so important in real flight as it is the key to maintaining straight and level flight. Unfortuantely you cannot experience the reduction of control forces with trimming on the sim, which is a big down side.